#MakingTime: A Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur and Community Builder for Latinas

Who: Roxanna Sarmiento

What: COO & Partner, #WeAllGrow Latina Network, mom of 3 boys

Where: Boston, MA

I want to tell you that once my alarm goes off I spend a few minutes in silent contemplation, but that would be a lie. Instead, I fire up Instagram and read up on the latest Facebook gossip. But only for a few minutes! It’s a weekday, and I have things to do. So I take a quick peek at my calendar, get up, wash my face and brush my teeth, put on my yoga clothes, and wake up son No. 1 on my way downstairs. 

I put the coffee on (in a moka pot, because I’m Dominican and I just can’t drink drip coffee) and put a few things out for breakfast for the kids. I then sit down and write four freehand pages in my notebook – yes, morning pages; Julia Cameron would be proud! – As soon as I’m done, I finish preparing the coffee and take two cups upstairs, one for me and one for my husband. I wake up son No. 2 on the way. I also pick up a load of laundry, put it in the machine, and reread what I wrote. If there is one sentence that makes sense, I highlight it and use it at some point that day, but usually it’s the scribblings of a madwoman. No matter – it really helps to put it all on paper. 

By this time, son No. 1 has left for the bus stop and my husband has come downstairs to take son No. 2 to school, so I go upstairs to wake up son No. 3. He’s the youngest, so he still needs some help getting ready, but not much, which allows me to go back downstairs and take a quick peek at my email. I usually close it back up when son No. 3 is ready to go to school so I help with the rush (boots, lunchbox, water bottle, permission slips) and my husband takes him to school. 

The house is quiet for a few minutes, so I really organize my day. I decide which calls I need to make, and who gets my first attention. When my husband gets home from taking the last kid to school, we usually eat a small breakfast together or have more coffee. Then he goes upstairs to get ready and I putter around until he leaves for work. 

My favorite time of the work day. I give myself a bit of time for writing projects – sometimes they are related to work, sometimes they are creative projects I do just for fun. 

I take a call with a potential #WeAllGrow Latina client. We are always looking for creative ways to increase the visibility of Latinas and I always enjoy these exploratory calls. After the call, I respond to emails and finish up a proposal that is due by the end of the week. 

I run to my car so I can make it to my 12:15 p.m. lunchtime yoga class. The studio is five minutes away so I have plenty of time!

(I bet you thought I wore yoga pants because I work from home? I do, they are comfy, but I also try to make it to yoga three times a week.) 

I run home, shower, and get dressed in real clothes. Then I get back to work. Today I’m posting an article on releasing creative blocks in our membership community, the Changemakers Collective.

I break for school pickup, and usually make it home in time for a 3:30 p.m. call with West Coast clients. I also need to respond to questions from the team, put out fires, or finalize an article I’ve been working on. More often than not, the quote highlighted from the morning pages ends up in the article. I love how that works!

I wind down work, check on the kids' homework, and start figuring out what we’re having for dinner. I don’t eat meat, but my boys do, so I prep the veggies while one of them helps with seasoning the meat. 

Husband is home from work, and we have dinner as a family. Favorite part of the day! The kids entertain us with stories from their day – with two middle schoolers and one elementary school student, SOMETHING is always happening. 

Everyone goes upstairs and I remember the load in the washing machine. Oops! I put it in the dryer and go upstairs and get in my pajamas. Then my husband and I go back downstairs and either watch TV or talk about something we have to do while we fold the laundry. 

I’m in bed, reading, until my eyes can’t stay open anymore. Good night!